BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates to a variable wavelength light source apparatus and
an optical amplifier using the same, which are used in various optical communication
systems, and in particular, to a variable wavelength light source apparatus capable
of changing continuously wavelengths of a plurality of oscillation light over a wideband,
and an optical amplifier constituting a pumping system using such an apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
[0002] For example, in a wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) optical fiber communication
system, an optical amplification technique is one of key technologies, and an erbium
(Er) doped optical fiber amplifier (EDFA) and the like are typically used in conventional
systems. Further, as the Internet comes into widespread use in recent years, demand
for networks increases explosively and an optical fiber communication system is required
to have larger capacity and a longer distance. A Raman amplifier becomes practical
as a main optical amplification technique for realizing such requirements. By using
the Raman amplifier and the EDFA together, it becomes possible to realize a transmission
characteristic of higher quality than that in the case where the EDFA is used alone,
and therefore the Raman amplifier is expected to be indispensable technique in a long-distance
transmission system.
[0003] For the Raman amplifier mentioned above, there are two amplification types: a distributed
parameter type and a concentrated type. The distributed parameter type is the one
in which pumping light is introduced into a transmission path (for example, a silica-based
fiber and the like) of an optical communication system to Raman amplify distributively
an optical signal being propagated in the transmission path, so that a part of transmission
losses is compensated. On the other hand, the concentrated type is the one in which
the pumping light is introduced concentratingly into a medium having higher non-linearity
(for example, a silica-based fiber having a smaller effective cross-sectional area)
to Raman amplify the optical signal efficiently. It is known that the Raman amplification
described above includes characteristics having a gain peak at a frequency lower than
a frequency of the pumping light by 13.2THz in the case where the silica-based fiber
is used as a medium. Therefore, the Raman amplifier has advantages capable to amplify
an optical signal of arbitrary frequency according to a wavelength of pumping light.
Further, by adopting a pumping system configuration in which a plurality of pumping
light sources of different wavelengths are prepared and each pumping light is multiplexed
to be supplied to an amplification medium, it becomes possible to realize a wider
Raman amplification bandwidth, and such a Raman amplifier also becomes practical.
[0004] As pumping system components in the Raman amplifier as described above, typically,
a semiconductor laser or the like is used as a pumping light source, and an interference
film, a fused coupler or a Mach-Zehnder type optical filter is used as a multiplexer
for multiplexing pumping light of each wavelength. For such a Raman amplifier using
such pumping system components, in the case where the pumping wavelength is made to
be variable over a wideband (for example, several nm or more) so as to enable the
amplification of an optical signal of an arbitrary wavelength band, needless to say,
multiplexing wavelength characteristics of the multiplexer is also required to be
variable in accordance with a change in the pumping wavelength.
[0005] Conventional multiplexers having multiplexing wavelength characteristics variable
are well known in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 56-113102, Japanese Unexamined
Utility Model Publication No. 60-104804, and the like. Each of such conventional multiplexers
is configured to utilize the interference film, in which, specifically, films having
different transmission characteristics are deposited on the same substrate and a predetermined
film is selected by making the substrate movable.
[0006] However, since each of the conventional multiplexers described above cannot change
multiplexing wavelength characteristics continuously as if arbitrary wavelengths,
even if the Raman amplifier having a pumping wavelength variable is constituted using
the conventional pumping system components, it is practically difficult to have wavelengths
of a plurality of pumping light variable continuously over a wideband.
[0007] In an optical network system of next-generation, for example, it is assumed that
system operating conditions such as a signal band, the number of signals, a signal
input level and a type of a transmission path may be changed dynamically. Therefore,
for a Raman amplifier applied to such a system, in order to maintain a good transmission
quality of each signal channel, it is required that a spectrum of pumping light (specifically,
the number of peak wavelengths, a center wavelength, bandwidth, pumping light power,
and the like) can be optimized accurately according to the system operating conditions
that are changed dynamically.
[0008] On the other hand, with regard to a pumping wavelength control of the Raman amplifier,
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-235772 discloses that the pumping
wavelength is made variable. However, the means for having the pumping wavelength
variable in this known technique, is to change the pumping wavelength by adjusting
an operation temperature of a pumping light source and the variable width of the pumping
wavelength is specifically a narrow band of on the order of 0.1 nm/°C. Therefore,
it is still difficult to have the pumping wavelength variable continuously over a
wideband of on the order of several nm or more as described above, and it is also
still difficult to flexibly cope with the system operating conditions that are changed
dynamically.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to realize
a variable wavelength light source apparatus capable of varying continuously a plurality
of oscillation wavelengths over a wideband. Further, it is a further object of the
present invention to provide an optical amplifier that can support a wide system operation
range and also can cope with a change in system operating conditions smoothly by constituting
a pumping system using the variable wavelength light source apparatus as described
above.
[0010] In order to achieve the above objects, a variable wavelength light source apparatus
according to the present invention, for multiplexing a plurality of variable wavelength
light to output multiplexed light, comprises: a wavelength selection device in which
a propagation direction of emitted light is changed according to a wavelength of incident
light; a plurality of light source sections, each including a gain medium that amplifies
light and a reflection component that reflects the light incident on one end and emitted
from the other end of the gain medium, to return the light to the other end, and emitting
the light that has reciprocated in the gain medium and has been amplified, to a predetermined
position of the wavelength selection device at angles different from each other; an
optical resonance reflection section including a light incident surface on which the
emitted light from the wavelength selection device enters, that reflects a part of
the light incident vertically on the light incident surface to form an optical resonator
configuration between the optical resonance reflection section and each of the reflection
components of the light source sections, to generate oscillation light; an optical
coupler section coupling the oscillation light transmitted through the optical resonance
reflection section in an output light path; and a wavelength selection device drive
section changing an arrangement angle of the wavelength selection device with respect
to the optical resonance reflection section with the predetermined position as a center.
[0011] In the variable wavelength light source apparatus of the above constitution, since
the light emitted from each light source section enters the predetermined position
of the wavelength selection device at the different angles and is emitted toward the
light incident surface of the optical resonance reflection section, and only the light
incident vertically on the light incident surface of the optical resonance reflection
section is reflected and resonates between the optical resonance reflection section
and each of the reflection components of the light source sections to oscillate. A
wavelength of each light that oscillates by each optical resonator configuration between
the optical resonance reflection section and each of the reflection components of
the light source sections is made variable by changing the arrangement angle of the
wavelength selection device with respect to the optical resonance reflection section
by the wavelength selection device drive section. Thus, the light that has been transmitted
through the optical resonance reflection section and introduced through the optical
coupler section to the output light path becomes light in which a plurality of oscillation
light, wavelengths of which can be changed continuously over a wideband, is multiplexed.
[0012] Further, the variable wavelength light source apparatus described above may comprise
a light source drive section changing an emission angle of the light directed to the
predetermined position of the wavelength selection device, for at least one or more
of the plurality of the light source sections. Thus, an interval between the oscillation
wavelengths corresponding to each light source section can be varied.
[0013] Still further, the variable wavelength light source apparatus described above may
comprise a monitoring section detecting a wavelength of the oscillation light coupled
in the output light path, and a control section controlling the wavelength selection
device drive section or the light source drive section according to the wavelength
detected by the monitoring section. In such a constitution, since the arrangement
angle of the wavelength selection device and the light emission angle of each of the
light source sections are feedback controlled according to the oscillation wavelength
of the multiplexed light that is actually output from the output light path, and fluctuation
of the oscillation wavelengths due to environmental variation and the like is corrected,
light of a desired oscillation wavelength can be output stably.
[0014] The variable wavelength light source apparatus according to the present invention
as described above is suitable, for example, as a pumping light source for various
optical amplifiers such as a Raman amplifier. According to such optical amplifiers,
since wavelengths of a plurality of pumping light can be changed continuously over
a wideband, amplification of signal light operated in a wide wavelength band can be
realized by a single pumping light source.
[0015] The other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent
from the following description of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016]
Fig. 1 is a plan view showing a constitution of a first embodiment of a variable wavelength
light source apparatus according to the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a diagram for explaining a basic function of a typical reflection type diffraction
grating;
Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of variation of an oscillation wavelength in
the first embodiment described above, in which (A) shows the case where a wavelength
interval between oscillation wavelengths is larger than a shift amount of each oscillation
wavelength, while (B) shows the case where the wavelength interval between the oscillation
wavelengths is smaller than the shift amount of each oscillation wavelength;
Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a variable wavelength light source
apparatus using a transmission type diffraction grating in connection with the first
embodiment described above;
Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an example in connection with the first embodiment
described above, wherein light source sections are made in a unit so as to enable
to respond to the addition of light source sections;
Fig. 6 is a plan view showing a constitution of a second embodiment of the variable
wavelength light source apparatus according to the present invention;
Fig. 7 is a diagram showing an example of variation of an oscillation wavelength in
the second embodiment described above, in which (A) shows the case where an oscillation
wavelength λ1' after varied does not exceed another oscillation wavelength λ2 before
varied, while (B) shows the case where the oscillation wavelength λ1' after varied
exceeds another oscillation wavelength λ2 before varied;
Fig. 8 is a plan view showing a constitution of a third embodiment of the variable
wavelength light source apparatus according to the present invention;
Fig. 9 is a block diagram showing a Raman amplifier using the variable wavelength
light source apparatus according to the present invention as a pumping light source;
and
Fig. 10 is a flow chart for explaining an example of a specific control method of
a pumping wavelength according to a change in system operating conditions, for the
Raman amplifier shown in Fig. 9.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0017] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference
to drawings. In each drawing, same components are denoted by the same reference numerals,
and the description thereof is omitted.
[0018] Fig. 1 is a plan view showing a constitution of a first embodiment of a variable
wavelength light source apparatus according to the present invention.
[0019] In Fig. 1, the variable wavelength light source apparatus comprises, for example,
a diffraction grating 1 as a wavelength selection device, a plurality of (two in this
embodiment) light sources 2
1 and 2
2, a half mirror 3 as an optical resonance reflection section, a lens 4 as an optical
coupler section, and an optical fiber 5 as an output light path.
[0020] The diffraction grating 1 is a typical reflection type diffraction grating constructed
such that, for example, grooves of equally spaced by a distance "d" are formed on
a substrate surface and a metal film or the like is deposited on the resultant concave/convex
surface. This diffraction grating 1 is disposed at an intermediate position between
an optical resonator configuration formed by the light sources 2
1, 2
2 and the half mirror 3 as described later, and reflects light sent from each of the
light sources 2
1, 2
2 and the half mirror 3 at a reflection point R. Further, the diffraction grating 1
is provided with a drive section 1 A. The drive section 1 A is able to rotate the
diffraction grating 1 with the reflection point R as a center, and a rotation angle
of the diffraction grating 1 is set according to an oscillation wavelength as described
later. It is possible to apply a well-known drive mechanism such as a motor control
to rotate the diffraction grating 1 mechanically, to the drive of the diffraction
grating 1 by the drive section 1A. Such a drive mechanism has been already applied,
for example, to a single-wavelength variable wavelength light source and the like.
[0021] Each of the light sources 2
1 and 2
2 includes, for example, a gain medium 2A and a lens 2B. The gain medium 2A is formed
with an antireflection film 2A
AR on one end face thereof and a high reflecting mirror 2A
HR as a reflection component on other end face thereof so that the light being propagated
in the medium is amplified to be output from the end face on which the antireflection
film 2A
AR is formed. As a specific example of the gain medium 2A, it is possible to use a typical
gain medium such as a semiconductor laser chip or the like. The lens 2B collimates
the light emitted from the gain medium 2A to send it toward the reflection point R
of the diffraction grating 1. Here, in this embodiment, it is assumed that each of
the light sources 2
1 and 2
2 is fixed at a predetermined position, and an axial direction of the emission light
is not changed.
[0022] The half mirror 3 is disposed so as to face the diffraction grating 1 and reflects
a part of the light reflected at the reflection point R of the diffraction grating
1 and incident vertically on the half mirror 3, so that the optical resonator configuration
is formed between the half mirror 3 and each of the high reflecting mirrors 2A
HR of the light sources 2
1 and 2
2. The light transmitted through the half mirror 3 is condensed on a core end face
of the optical fiber 5 via the lens 4.
[0023] Here, in the variable wavelength light source apparatus of the constitution described
above, in order to reduce affects by a change in environmental temperature, the respective
optical components such as the diffraction grating 1, the light sources 2
1 and 2
2, the half mirror 3 and the lens 4 may be integrated to be controlled at a constant
temperature. Further, in order to reduce affects due to a change in environmental
humidity, the respective optical components may be packaged in a vacuum tube and the
like.
[0024] Next, an operation of the first embodiment will be described. First, a basic function
of a typical reflection type diffraction grating will be described since such a description
is useful for understanding the operation of the present variable wavelength light
source apparatus.
[0025] As shown in Fig. 2, in the reflection type diffraction grating, a reflection angle
of the light incident on a diffraction grating surface differs depending on the wavelength
of the incident light. With regard to this reflection angle, a relationship as shown
in the equation (1) is established assuming that a distance between gratings of the
diffraction grating is "d", a wavelength of the incident light is λ, an angle between
the incident light and the reflected light is θ, and the diffraction order is "m"
(m is a positive or negative integer):
[0026] This variable wavelength light source apparatus utilizes the diffraction grating
having the spectrometric function as described above not as a spectrometer but as
a multiplexer. Namely, in this variable wavelength light source apparatus, an optical
system is structured so that the light emitted from each of the light sources 2
1 and 2
2 is reflected at the reflection point R of the diffraction grating 1 to enter on the
half mirror 3. Only the light incident vertically on the half mirror 3 reciprocates
between the half mirror 3 and the high reflecting mirror 2A
HR of each of the light sources 2
1 and 2
2 and is amplified in the gain medium 2A of each of the light sources 2
1 and 2
2, to oscillate. Then, a part of each oscillation light is transmitted through the
half mirror 3 and condensed on the core end face of the optical fiber 5 by the lens
4 so that the multiplexed light of two waves is output from the optical fiber 5.
[0027] A wavelength of the light output from this variable wavelength light source apparatus,
in other words, an oscillation wavelength corresponding to each of the light sources
2
1 and 2
2 is determined by a light emission angle of each of the light sources 2
1 and 2
2 and an arrangement angle of the diffraction grating 1. Therefore, in this variable
wavelength light source apparatus, for example, the light emission angle of each of
the light sources 2
1 and 2
2 and the arrangement angle of the diffraction grating 1 are obtained as initial values
by calculating back from a desired oscillation wavelength, and then the respective
component are arranged at required positions based on the initial values. In this
case, the diffraction grating 1 is rotated by the drive section 1A so that each oscillation
wavelength is changed continuously over a wideband.
[0028] Here, the angle adjustment of the diffraction grating 1 corresponding to the oscillation
wavelength in this variable wavelength light source apparatus will be described specifically.
[0029] First, the equation (1) mentioned above is subjected to Taylor's expansion (Maclaurin's
expansion) of the reflected light angle θ, to obtain the following equation (2). Here,
the order of diffraction "m" is assumed to be 1:
[0030] For the apparatus constitution shown in Fig. 1, for example, in the case where the
wavelength of the light incident vertically on the half mirror 3 from the light source
2
1 via the half mirror 3 is changed from λ1 to λ1', a change amount in the angle of
the diffraction grating 1 can be calculated using the above equation (2). Namely,
assuming that the angle between a normal line of the half mirror 3 and a light emission
direction of the light source 2
1 is θ1 for the wavelength λ1, and θ1' for the wavelength λ1', each angle θ1 and θ1'
can be expressed by the following equations (3) and (4), respectively, by using the
equation (2).
[0031] Therefore, in the case where the wavelength of the light incident vertically on the
half mirror 3 is changed from λ1 to λ1', the change amount in the angle of the diffraction
grating 1 becomes |θ1 - θ1'|, and this change amount can be expressed by the equation
(5) using the equations (3) and (4) above.
[0032] For example, the consideration is specifically made on the case where 5000 grooves
per 1cm are formed on the diffraction grating 1 and the oscillation wavelength is
varied from 1490nm to 1390nm. In this case, the distance "d" between gratings (in
"m" unit) is expressed by the following equation.
[0033] When the distance "d" between gratings is substituted into the equations (3) and
(4) to obtain the angle θ1 for when the oscillation wavelength λ1 is 1490nm and the
angle θ1' for when the oscillation wavelength λ1' is 1390nm, respectively, the results
are: θ1 = 48.159° and θ1' = 44.027°. Therefore, in the above setting conditions, by
changing the angle of the diffraction grating by 4.132° (= 48.159° - 44.027°), the
oscillation wavelength can be varied from 1490nm to 1390nm.
[0034] In the above specific example, the description has been made on the case where the
order of diffraction "m" is 1. For the case of the second or higher order of diffraction,
since a wavelength of higher-order diffracted light greatly departs from the wavelength
of the first-order diffracted light, it is considered that the higher-order diffracted
light hardly affects the first-order diffracted light. But, when it is necessary to
consider the affects of the higher-order diffracted light, any measure may be taken,
for example, an optical filter capable of blocking the higher-order diffracted light
may be applied to the half mirror 3.
[0035] Further, in the above specific example, although the description has been made on
only the light source 2
1, an oscillation wavelength of the other light source 2
2 is also varied with the rotation of the diffraction grating 1. In the constitution
of this embodiment, since the light emission angles of the respective light sources
2
1 and 2
2 are fixed, the oscillation wavelength λ1 corresponding to the light source 2
1 and the oscillation wavelength λ2 corresponding to the light source 2
2 are shifted (wavelength varied) to the oscillation wavelengths λ1' and λ2', respectively,
with the rotation of the diffraction grating 1, while keeping a fixed wavelength interval
A (=λ2 - λ1 = λ2' - λ1') as shown in (A) and (B) of Fig. 3, for example.
[0036] Incidentally, (A) of Fig. 3 shows the case where the oscillation wavelength λ1' after
the shift does not exceed the oscillation wavelength λ2 before the shift, that is,
the above fixed wavelength interval A is wider than a shift amount Δλ of each oscillation
wavelength (=λ1' - λ1 = λ2' - λ2). On the other hand, (B) of Fig. 3 shows the case
where the oscillation wavelength λ1' after the shift exceeds the oscillation wavelength
λ2 before the shift, that is, the above fixed wavelength interval A is narrower than
the shift amount Δλ of each oscillation wavelength.
[0037] Here, increase of optical power that is output from this variable wavelength light
source apparatus will be described briefly.
[0038] In order to increase the optical output power, it is necessary to increase a gain
of each of the light sources 2
1 and 2
2 and reduce a loss in the optical system of from an output end of the gain medium
2A to a condensing position of the optical fiber 5. With regard to the former, it
is effective to apply a known high-power semiconductor laser and the like to each
of the light sources 2
1 and 2
2. On the other hand, with regard to the latter, it is effective to perform the reduction
of a reflection loss of the diffraction grating 1, the optimization of lens coupling
efficiency, the reduction of resonance length between the half mirror 3 and the high
reflecting mirror 2A
HR, and the like. More specifically, since it is considered that the loss in the optical
system of the known variable wavelength light source apparatus is typically 3 - 7dB,
even if the loss in the optical system of the present variable wavelength light source
apparatus is 7dB, for example, assuming that a chip (for example, 700mW chip output)
used in a high-power semiconductor laser that has been in practical use is applied
to the gain medium 2A of the present variable wavelength light source apparatus, the
optical power at the condensing position of the optical fiber 5 is about 140mW per
one oscillation wavelength. Therefore, the output light of this variable wavelength
light source apparatus constituted by using a plurality of light sources can satisfy
the power level that is applicable, for example, as pumping light for a typical Raman
amplifier.
[0039] As described above, according to the variable wavelength light source apparatus according
to the first embodiment, the diffraction grating 1 is rotated by the drive section
1A, to change the arrangement angle of the diffraction grating 1 and to vary the wavelengths
of the plurality of light incident vertically on the half mirror 3. Thus, in contrast
to the conventional constitution in which the variable wavelength light source and
the multiplexer are incorporated separately, it becomes possible to easily realize
the constitution in which the variable wavelength light source and the multiplexer
are integrated, and also it becomes possible to vary continuously the oscillation
wavelengths λ1 and λ2 corresponding to the light sources 2
1 and 2
2, respectively, over a wideband according to setting accuracy of the rotation angle
of the diffraction grating 1. Further, by using the diffraction grating 1, a variable
wavelength range of each of the oscillation wavelengths λ1 and λ2 becomes extremely
wider than the conventional case using the temperature control of light source and
the like, and in the most recent technique, an upper limit value of the variable wavelength
range is determined by a gain band of the gain medium 2A (for example, about 100nm).
Still further, for the optical power output from the variable wavelength light source
apparatus, it is possible to control separately and continuously the gains in the
gain mediums 2A of the light sources 2
1 and 2
2 by adjusting a supply amount of driving current, for example.
[0040] In the first embodiment described above, the description has been made on the case
where the reflection type diffraction grating is used as the wavelength selection
device. However, the present invention is not limited thereto and a transmission type
diffraction grating or other known devices having wavelength selection function can
be applied. Fig. 4 shows an example of the variable wavelength light source apparatus
constituted by using the transmission type diffraction grating.
[0041] Further, in the first embodiment described above, the description has been made on
the case where the number of oscillation wavelengths is set to two waves by using
the two light sources 2
1 and 2
2. However, the present invention is not limited thereto and the number of oscillation
wavelengths can be set arbitrarily by increasing the number of light sources. Further,
in consideration of a possibility that the number of oscillation wavelengths would
be more than previously expected, a constitution in which the optical sources in this
variable wavelength light source apparatus is made to be a unit so that more optical
source units can be readily added. More specifically, as shown in Fig. 5 for example,
a constitution in which the constitution of the first embodiment described above is
incorporated as a basic light source unit and additional light source units are added
to the basic light source unit is possible.
[0042] Here, constraint on the setting of the number of oscillation wavelengths in the variable
wavelength light source apparatus according to the present invention will be described.
[0043] An upper limit of the number of oscillation wavelengths of the present variable wavelength
light source apparatus is determined by each oscillation wavelength and the interval
between the oscillation wavelengths, the distance "d" between gratings of the diffraction
grating, and a size of each light source and its arrangement (distance to the diffractive
grating). More specifically, the narrower the interval between the oscillation wavelengths
is, the smaller a difference between the light emission angles of the light sources
to the diffraction grating is, and therefore physical limitations will occur depending
on the size of each light source and its arrangement.
[0044] For example, typically, dimensions of a 1.4µm InGaAsP/InP-based semiconductor laser
chip are 250 - 300µm in width, 800 - 1000µm in length and 100 - 150µm in height. Assuming
that a minimum distance between the light sources 2
1 and 2
2 each using the semiconductor laser chip of such dimensions as gain mediums is 300µm,
6500 grooves are formed per 1cm on the diffraction grating 1 (the distance between
the grooves "d" = 1.54 x 10
-6m), and the oscillation wavelengths are set to 1430nm and 1460nm, respectively, the
light sources 2
1 and 2
2 are required to be disposed so that the difference between the light emission angles
of the light sources toward the reflection point R of the diffraction grating 1 is
3.27° (71.65° - 68.38°). In this case, the distance between each light source and
the diffraction grating may be about 5.26mm (= 300µm/sin3.27°). However, when the
oscillation wavelengths are set to, for example, 1428nm and 1430nm, respectively,
the light sources 2
1 and 2
2 are required to be disposed so that the difference between the light emission angles
of the light sources is a very small value such as 0.2° (68.18° - 68.38°), as a result,
the distance between each light source and the diffraction grating 1 will be about
86mm (= 300µm/sin0.2°). In such a case, a resonant length of the light becomes longer,
leading the increase in the loss and the growth in size of this variable wavelength
light source itself (the plurality of light sources and the multiplexer). Therefore,
it is desired that the interval between the oscillation wavelengths is kept to be
several nm or more in this variable wavelength light source apparatus.
[0045] Further, in the above discussion, it has been assumed that the light sources 2
1 and 2
2 are disposed on the identical plane. However, it is also possible to remove the sources
2
1 and 2
2 from the identical plane to be disposed in three-dimensions according to a region
of the reflection point R of the diffraction grating 1, depending on tolerance of
a required region in which the light transmitted through the half mirror 3 can be
coupled on the core of the optical fiber 5.
[0046] Still further, in the case where it is necessary to set the resonant length of the
light to be relatively longer corresponding to the narrow interval between the oscillation
wavelengths, since spectral line width of the light becomes narrower, it is also effective
to increase the spectral line width by subjecting the driving current of the light
sources to the modulation of about 1 MHz as needed.
[0047] Next, a second embodiment of the variable wavelength light source apparatus according
to the present invention will be described.
[0048] Fig. 6 is a plan view showing a constitution of the variable wavelength light source
apparatus in the second embodiment.
[0049] In Fig. 6, a difference of this variable wavelength light source apparatus from the
first embodiment shown in Fig. 1 above is in that the light source 2
1 is defined as a reference light source and the light source 2
2 is provided with a drive section 2C. Other components than the above are the same
as those in the first embodiment.
[0050] The drive section 2C changes the light emission angle of the light source 2
2 that is disposed on a movable stage and the like (not shown in the figure), by moving
the movable stage by a motor control and the like. More specifically, the light source
2
2 is moved by the drive section 2C so that a light emission plane of the light source
2
2 is positioned on a circular arc "a" with the reflection point R of the diffraction
grating 1 as a center.
[0051] In the variable wavelength light source apparatus constituted as described above,
since the light emission angle of the light source 2
2 can be changed in addition to the arrangement angle of the diffraction grating 1,
it becomes also possible to vary the relationship of the oscillation wavelength λ2
corresponding to the light source 2
2 to the oscillation wavelength λ1 corresponding to the light source 2
1, that is, the interval between the oscillation wavelengths λ1 and λ2. For example,
as shown in (A) and (B) of Fig. 7, it becomes possible to make an interval B' between
the wavelengths λ1' and λ2' after the oscillation wavelength being varied to be different
from an interval B between the wavelengths λ1 and λ2 before the oscillation wavelength
being varied. Note, (A) of Fig. 7 shows the case where the oscillation wavelength
λ1' after being varied does not exceed the oscillation wavelength λ2 before being
varied, and (B) of Fig. 7 shows the case where the oscillation wavelength λ1' after
being varied exceeds the oscillation wavelength λ2 before being varied.
[0052] As described above, according to the variable wavelength light source apparatus of
the second embodiment, since the light emission angle of the light source 2
2 is made variable, the interval between the oscillation wavelengths can also be changed
continuously.
[0053] In the second embodiment described above, although the light source 2
1 is defined as the reference light source and the light source 2
2 is provided with the drive section 2C. However, alternatively, the constitution may
be such that the light source 2
2 is defined as the reference light source and the light source 2
1 is provided with the drive section 2C. Further, in the case where three or more light
sources are used, it is also possible to define one of these light sources as the
reference light source and provide the drive section 2C to at least one of remaining
light sources.
[0054] Next, a third embodiment of the variable wavelength light source apparatus according
to the present invention will be described.
[0055] Fig. 8 is a plan view showing a constitution of the variable wavelength light source
apparatus in the third embodiment.
[0056] In Fig. 8, this variable wavelength light source apparatus is constituted so that
a monitoring section 6 and a control section 7 are added to the constitution of the
second embodiment shown in Fig. 6 above, for example, for feedback controlling each
of the drive sections 1A and 2C based on actual output light.
[0057] The monitoring section 6 branches a part of the light condensed on the core end face
of the optical fiber 5 and monitors a wavelength of each oscillation light included
in the branched light. Based on each oscillation wavelength monitored by the monitoring
section 6, the control section 7 adjusts driving conditions of the drive sections
1A and 2C, respectively, to feedback control the arrangement angle of the diffraction
grating 1 and the light emission angle of the light source 2
2 so that the oscillation wavelength of the light that is output actually coincides
with a desired value. In the control section 7, information about the optical system
such as the arrangement of each light source 2
1 and 2
2 with respect to the reflection point R of the diffraction grating 1 is set in advance,
and based on such information, control values of the arrangement angle of the diffraction
grating 1 and the light emission angle of the light source 2
2 are calculated for correcting a deviation between the actual oscillation wavelength
monitored by the monitoring section 6 and the desired oscillation wavelength.
[0058] According to such a variable wavelength light source apparatus, since the arrangement
angle of the diffraction grating 1 and the light emission angle of the light source
2
2 are feedback controlled according to the oscillation wavelength of the light that
is actually multiplexed to be output, so that fluctuation of the oscillation wavelength
due to environmental changes, a change with aging and the like, for example, can be
corrected, thereby enabling to output stably the light of the desired oscillation
wavelength.
[0059] In the third embodiment described above, the feedback control is performed for the
second embodiment described above. However, this feedback control can be applied to
the first embodiment described above similarly. In this case, by monitoring a wavelength
of one oscillation light being a reference among the respective oscillation light
actually output, it is possible to feedback control the arrangement angle of the diffraction
grating 1.
[0060] Further, in the third embodiment, the control values of the arrangement angle of
the diffractive grating 1 and the light emission angle of the light source 2
2 are calculated by the control section 7. However, the constitution may be such that
control values with respect to assumed oscillation wavelengths are stored in a database
and, according to the monitoring results, the arrangement angle of the diffraction
grating 1 and the light emission angle of the light source 2
2 are controlled by referring to the database.
[0061] Next, an embodiment of an optical amplifier using the variable wavelength light source
apparatus according to the present invention will be described.
[0062] Fig. 9 is a block diagram showing an exemplary configuration of a Raman amplifier
using the variable wavelength light source apparatus according to the present invention
as a pumping light source.
[0063] The Raman amplifier 10 shown in Fig. 9 comprises a variable wavelength light source
apparatus 12 and an optical circulator 13 for supplying pumping light P to an optical
transmission path as an optical amplification medium, a branch section 14 and a pumping
light monitoring section 15 for monitoring supply conditions of the pumping light
P, a branch section 16 and a signal light monitoring section 17 for monitoring WDM
signal light S that has been propagated through the optical transmission path 11 to
be Raman amplified, a system administrating section 18 for creating information about
transmission quality of the WDM signal light (transmission quality information) and
information about operating conditions of a system connected to the present Raman
amplifier 10 (system operation information) to administrate each information, and
a pumping light administrating section 19 for controlling a drive section of the variable
wavelength light source apparatus 12 according to the monitoring results of the signal
light monitoring section 17 and the administrating information of the system administrating
section 18.
[0064] Note, the constitution of this Raman amplifier 10 is basically the same as that of
the Raman amplifier disclosed in Japanese Patent Application 2002-10298 that is a
prior application filed by the present applicant. But, the present Raman amplifier
differs from the prior application in that the variable wavelength light source apparatus
12 is used as the pumping light source and the multiplexer.
[0065] For the variable wavelength light source apparatus 12, the variable wavelength light
source apparatus according to the first or second embodiment described above is used,
wherein the number of the provided light sources is generalized to be N in number,
and pumping light P
0 - P
N of N waves with different wavelengths are multiplexed to be output. As described
above, the variable wavelength light source apparatus can vary wavelengths λ
0 - λ
N of the pumping light P
0 - P
N continuously over a wideband by changing the arrangement angle of the diffraction
grating 1 and further the light emission angle of each light source, and at the same
time, it can change the power of each pumping light P
0 - P
N by changing the gain in the gain medium 2A of each light source by adjusting the
supply amount of the driving current, for example.
[0066] The optical circulator 13 is for supplying the pumping light P that has been output
from the variable wavelength light source apparatus 12 and has passed through the
branch section 14 to the optical transmission path 11 (the amplification medium).
Here, the optical circulator 13 supplies the pumping light P to the optical transmission
path 11 so that a propagation direction of the pumping light P is opposite to a propagation
direction of the WDM signal light S. Also, the optical circulator 13 passes therethrough
the WDM signal light S that has been propagated through the optical transmission path
11 and Raman amplified, to transmit the light S to an optical path at an output side.
[0067] Here, although the pumping light is supplied to the optical transmission path 11
using the optical circulator 13, a WDM coupler (fused type), a multiplex interference
film and the like may be used instead of the optical circulator 13. Further, as a
specific example of the optical transmission path 1, a highly nonlinear fiber, a silica-based
fiber can also be used.
[0068] The branch section 14 branches a part of the pumping light P output from the variable
wavelength light source apparatus 12 as monitoring light Pm to output it to the pumping
light monitoring section 15. The pumping light monitoring section 15 supervises the
power and spectrum of the pumping light P based on the monitoring light Pm from the
branch section 14 and transmits the supervisory result to the pumping light administrating
section 19.
[0069] The branch section 16 branches a part of the WDM signal light that has passed through
the optical circulator 13 as monitoring light Sm, to output it to the signal light
monitoring section 17. The signal light monitoring section 17 supervises an output
condition of the Raman amplified WDM signal light S based on the monitoring light
Sm from the branch section 16 and transmits the supervisory result to the system administrating
section 18. Also, the signal light monitoring section 17 detects a supervisory signal
included in the WDM signal light S, using the monitoring light Sm from the branch
section 16, and transmits the detected supervisory signal to the system administrating
section 18.
[0070] The system administrating section 18 creates the transmission quality information
based on an optical S/N ratio, an output level and the like monitored by the signal
light monitoring section 17, and also, creates the system operation information based
on the supervisory signal detected by the signal light monitoring section 17, to send
each information to the pumping light administrating section 19. Here, specific examples
of the transmission quality information may include, for example, the optical S/N
ratio, an inter-channel deviation, and the optical power level of the Raman amplified
WDM signal light S. On the other hand, specific examples of the system operation information
may include, for example, the wavelength band and the number of the WDM signal light
S, an input level of the signal light to the optical transmission path, and the type
of the optical transmission path.
[0071] The pumping light administrating section 19 calculates optimal supply conditions
of the pumping light for realizing the Raman amplification capable of corresponding
to a change in the operating conditions without affecting services in operation, according
to the transmission quality information and the system operation information from
the system administrating section 18. Then, the pumping light administrating section
19 sets the calculation result to a target value (an initial value), to control the
wavelength and power of the pumping light generated in the variable wavelength light
source apparatus 12. Further, based on the monitoring result from the pumping light
monitoring section 15, the pumping light administrating section 19 feedback controls
the variable wavelength light source apparatus 12 so that the pumping light P actually
supplied coincides with the above target value.
[0072] Next, an operation of the Raman amplifier 10 as described above will be described.
[0073] In this Raman amplifier 10, basically, the pumping light P the wavelength and power
of which are controlled by the pumping light administrating section 19 is supplied
to the optical transmission path 11 by the optical circulator 13, to be propagated
within the optical transmission path 11 in an opposite direction to the propagation
direction of the WDM signal light S. Then, the WDM signal light S being propagated
through the optical transmission path 11 is amplified up to a required level due to
the Raman effect by the pumping light P and the Raman amplified WDM signal light S
is sent through the optical circulator 13 to the optical path at the output side.
The supervisory signal is carried on this WDM signal light S, by the low-frequency
intensity modulation or the use of a channel other than the signal light, for example.
The supervisory signal is detected by the signal light monitoring section 17 via the
branch section 16, to be transmitted to the system administrating section 18. Based
on the detected supervisory signal, the system administrating section 18 judges the
operating conditions such as the wavelength band of the WDM signal light S as described
above to create the system operation information.
[0074] Then, when the system administrating section 18 judges that the system operating
conditions are changed, the supply conditions of the pumping light P output from the
variable wavelength light source apparatus 12 are optimized according to the change
in the system operating conditions. For example, in the case where signal light on
a shorter wavelength side is added to the WDM signal light S, in order to Raman amplify
the signal light of the new wavelength band, the wavelength of the pumping light is
required to be shifted to the shorter wavelength side. More specifically, when the
system operating conditions are changed such that the wavelength band of the WDM signal
S is varied from 1530nm - 1600nm to 1490nm - 1600nm (so called addition of S-band),
in the case where the oscillation wavelengths corresponding to, for example, three
light sources 2
1, 2
2 and 2
3 of the variable wavelength light source apparatus 12 are shifted from 1430 nm, 1450
nm and 1490 nm before being varied to 1395 nm, 1415 nm and 1455 nm after being varied,
respectively, if 5000 grooves per 1 cm are formed on the diffraction grating used
for the variable wavelength light source apparatus 12, it becomes possible to realize
the shift of pumping wavelength as described above by changing the arrangement angle
of the diffraction grating by 1.437°.
[0075] In the above case, it is considered that the optical power of the signal light on
a longer wavelength side may be increased by receiving an energy shift from the signal
light on the shorter wavelength side due to a stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) effect
of signal light, wherein it may be effective to assign a higher priority of pumping
wavelength shift to the shorter wavelength side than the longer wavelength side. In
such a case, the arrangement angle of the diffraction grating is changed and also
the light emission angles of the respective light source are changed sequentially
in accordance with the priority, so that the order to shift the pumping wavelength
as described above can also be controlled.
[0076] Further, in the case where the length of the optical transmission path 11 is changed,
for example, the longer the optical transmission path is, the stronger the above SRS
effect of signal light is caused, leading a necessity of amplifying more greatly the
signal light on the shorter wavelength side. Therefore, it is required to shift the
pumping light to the shorter wavelength side according to the extension of the length
of the optical transmission path 11. More specifically, when the system operating
conditions are changed such that a loss per 1 span is varied from 20dB to 25dB due
to the extension of the optical transmission path 11, in the case where the oscillation
wavelengths corresponding to, for example, three light sources 2
1, 2
2 and 2
3 of the variable wavelength light source apparatus 12 are shifted from 1430nm, 1450nm
and 1490nm before being varied to 1425nm, 1445nm and 1485nm after being varied, respectively,
if 5000 grooves per 1 cm are formed on the diffraction grating used for the variable
wavelength light source apparatus 12, it becomes possible to realize the shift of
the pumping wavelength as described above by changing the arrangement angle of the
diffraction grating by 0.208°.
[0077] Still further, when the number of signal light included in the WDM signal light S
is changed significantly, for example, it is required to control the pumping light
according to such a change. More specifically, when the system operating conditions
are changed such that the number of signal light is changed from 88 channels of full-channels
to two channels of the shortest and longest wavelengths, in the case where the oscillation
wavelengths corresponding to, for example, three light sources 2
1, 2
2 and 2
3 of the variable wavelength light source apparatus 12 are shifted from 1430nm, 1450nm
and 1490nm before being varied to 1425nm and 1495nm after being varied, respectively,
at first, the drive of the optical source 2
2 is stopped to turn off the pumping light with the wavelength of 1450nm. Then, if
5000 grooves per 1 cm are formed on the diffraction grating used for the variable
wavelength light source apparatus 12, the pumping wavelength corresponding to the
light source 2
1 is shifted to 1425nm by changing the arrangement angle of the diffraction grating
by 0.205° and thereafter, the pumping wavelength corresponding to the light source
2
3 is shifted to 1495nm by changing the light emission angle of the light source 2
3 by -0.429°.
[0078] As for a specific control method of the pumping wavelength according to the change
in the system operating conditions as described above, refer to Japanese Patent Application
2002-10298 mentioned above, which discloses in detail such a control method. Here,
a basic content of the control method disclosed in the prior application will be described
briefly with reference to a flowchart in Fig. 10.
[0079] First, in Step 1 (depicted as S1 in the figure, and the same rule is applied hereinafter)
of Fig. 10, if the system operation information indicating the change in operating
conditions is transmitted from the system administrating section 18 to the pumping
light administrating section 19, the control proceeds to Step 2, wherein optimal supply
conditions of the pumping light P after the change in the operating conditions are
calculated in the pumping light administrating section 19. In such calculation of
the optimal supply conditions, optimal values of the wavelength and power of the pumping
light P corresponding to the system operating conditions after the change are obtained
by, for example, referring to the database registered in the pumping light administrating
section 19 in advance.
[0080] Further, in Step 3, in the pumping light administrating section 19, it is judged
how the supply conditions of the pumping light P before the change in the operating
conditions are to be shifted to the supply conditions of the pumping light P after
the change in the operating conditions calculated in Step 2, to determine a procedure
for changing the wavelength and power of the pumping light P capable of holding required
transmission quality without affecting services in operation.
[0081] Then, in Step 4, the pumping light administrating section 19 controls the operation
of the variable wavelength light source apparatus until the supply conditions of the
pumping light P achieve the optimal values after the change calculated in Step 2 while
synchronizing with the change with time in the operating conditions, in accordance
with the changing procedure determined in Step 3.
[0082] Further, in Step 5, the variable wavelength light source apparatus 12 is feedback
controlled so that the condition of the pumping light P that is actually supplied
coincides with the target value, according to the monitoring result of the pumping
light monitoring section 15. And at the same time, according to the transmission quality
information created in the system administrating section 18 based on the monitoring
result of the signal light monitoring section 17, the supply conditions of the pumping
light P are finely adjusted so that the transmission quality of the WDM signal light
S that has been Raman amplified actually is maintained in a good condition.
[0083] In the procedure for changing the supply conditions of the pumping light P determined
in Step 3 above, it is preferable to, as a first step, determine a procedure for changing
the wavelength setting of the pumping light P before the change in operating conditions
to the wavelength setting of the pumping light P after the change in operating conditions,
and then, as a second step, to determine a procedure for changing the wavelength and
power of the pumping light P in consideration of the maintenance of transmission quality
of each channel light in operation.
[0084] In the above first step, for example, it is desired to obtain a difference between
each pumping wavelength before the change and each pumping wavelength after the change
calculated as the optimal value, and then to change the wavelength setting of the
light sources so as to correspond to the pumping wavelength of small difference. Here,
if the obtained difference exceeds the variable wavelength range of the pumping light
source, a new light source is activated.
[0085] In the above second step, basically, a procedure for adjusting the variable wavelength
light source apparatus 12 is determined so that the wavelength and power of each pumping
light P
1 - P
N is adjusted in parallel with each other while synchronizing with the change with
time in the system operating conditions. Further, it is desirable to determine the
changing procedure so as to maintain the transmission quality of each channel light
in operation by assigning a priority of adjustment to each pumping light P
1 - P
N, that is, by assigning a lower priority of adjustment to the pumping light less affecting
the transmission quality.
[0086] As a condition that the higher priority of adjustment is assigned, such a case is
considered where, for example, when the wavelength of particular pumping light before
the change in the operating conditions coincides with or approximates to the wavelength
of the signal light after the change in the operating conditions, the higher priority
of control is assigned to the particular pumping light than the other pumping light
so that the wavelength of the particular pumping light is shifted before the operation
of the signal light is started. Further, for example, it is also considered that the
higher priority of control is assigned to the pumping light responsible for Raman
amplification of a signal light band that is in progress of transition of its operating
conditions than the other pumping light so as to respond to the change in the operating
conditions more securely.
[0087] In order to perform adjustment of the pumping light using such a priority as described
above, for example, information about the priority setting and an assumed adjustment
method are compiled into a database in advance so that the changing procedure of the
arrangement setting of the variable wavelength light source apparatus 12 is determined
based on this information. As the assumed adjustment method mentioned above, for example,
in the case where a wavelength of particular pumping light is shifted, since a Raman
gain of the wavelength band, for which the particular pumping light of the wavelength
before the shift is responsible, is reduced, it is considered to perform adjustment
so as to increase the power of pumping light of a wavelength nearer to the wavelength
before the shift of the particular pumping light. Further, for example, when the power
of pumping light of a particular wavelength may be increased, the power of pumping
light of a wavelength nearer to the particular wavelength may be decreased.
[0088] According to the Raman amplifier 10 as described above, the variable wavelength light
source apparatus 12 capable of varying continuously the oscillation wavelengths of
N waves over a wideband. Thus, even if the system operating conditions are changed
dynamically, since the wavelength and power of each pumping light P
1 - P
N can be optimized according to the change, it is possible to change a condition of
Raman amplification without affecting services in operation. Therefore, it becomes
possible to realize the Raman amplifier capable of flexibly corresponding to WDM signal
light operated in a wide wavelength band.
[0089] It is to be noted that an optical amplifier using the variable wavelength light source
apparatus according to the present invention as a pumping light source is not limited
to the Raman amplifier constituted as described above, but the variable wavelength
light source apparatus according to the present invention can be applied to typical
Raman amplifiers of known constitution, or moreover, to various optical amplifiers
using a plurality of pumping light of different wavelengths.